Qingming Festival

Qingming is one of China's 24 solar terms. Because the 24 solar terms objectively reflect the year-round changes in temperature, rainfall, and phenology, ancient working people used them to plan agricultural activities. The Huainanzi, "Astronomy Instructions," states: "Fifteen days after the Spring Equinox, when the Big Dipper points to Yi, the Qingming wind arrives." According to the Sui Shi Bai Wen (Hundred Questions on the Sui Shi), "All things grow at this time, all are clean and bright. Hence, it is called Qingming." With the arrival of Qingming, temperatures rise and rainfall increases, making it an ideal time for spring plowing and planting. Hence the agricultural proverbs, "Plant melons and beans around Qingming" and "The best time to plant trees is during Qingming." This demonstrates the close connection between this solar term and agricultural production.

However, Qingming, as a festival, is different from simply a solar term. While solar terms mark the changing phenology and seasonal order of China, festivals incorporate certain customs and commemorative significance.

Qingming is a traditional Chinese festival and one of the most important commemorative festivals. It is a day for ancestor worship and tomb sweeping. Tomb sweeping, commonly known as visiting graves, is an activity to honor the deceased. Most Han Chinese and some ethnic minorities visit their ancestors' graves during Qingming Festival.

According to traditional customs, when visiting the graves, people would bring wine, food, fruit, paper money, and other offerings to the cemetery. They would then burn the paper money, add new soil to the graves, break off a few tender green branches and place them on the graves, then kowtow and perform a ritual of respect. Finally, they would consume the food and wine and return home. The Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's poem "Qingming": "During the Qingming Festival, rain falls heavily, and travelers on the road are almost heartbroken. I asked where the tavern is, and a shepherd boy pointed to the distant Xinghua Village." This captures the special atmosphere of Qingming Festival.

Qingming Festival, also known as the Outing Festival, falls between April 4th and 6th each year according to the Gregorian calendar. This is the time of bright spring sunshine and greenery, and it's also a good time for spring outings (called "Taqing" in ancient times). Therefore, the ancients had the custom of outings and engaging in a variety of sports activities during Qingming Festival.

To this day, the custom of worshipping ancestors and mourning deceased relatives on Qingming Festival remains popular. The Origin and Legend of Qingming Festival

The traditional Chinese Qingming Festival, which dates back to around the Zhou Dynasty, boasts a history of over 2,500 years. Originally, Qingming was a very important solar term. With the arrival of Qingming, temperatures rose, making it the ideal time for spring plowing and planting. Hence the agricultural proverbs, "Plant melons and beans around Qingming" and "The best time to plant trees is during Qingming." Later, due to the proximity of Qingming and Cold Food Festival, a day when people abstained from burning fires and sweeping tombs, the two gradually merged. Cold Food Festival became both a nickname for Qingming and a custom of the Qingming Festival. On Qingming Day, people refrain from using fire and only eat cold foods.

There is a legend about Cold Food Festival:

According to legend, during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Duke Xian of Jin's concubine, Li Ji, plotted to murder Crown Prince Shensheng in order to ensure her son, Xiqi, would succeed to the throne. Shensheng was forced to commit suicide. To escape the consequences, Shensheng's younger brother, Chong'er, fled into exile. During his exile, Chong'er suffered humiliation. Most of the ministers who had followed him in exile gradually went their separate ways. Only a few loyal men remained, remaining with him. One of them was Jie Zitui. Once, Chong'er fainted from hunger. To save Chong'er, Jie Zitui cut a piece of flesh from his own leg, roasted it over a fire, and gave it to Chong'er. Nineteen years later, Chong'er returned to his country and became the ruler of Jin, Duke Wen of Jin, one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period.

After taking power, Duke Wen lavishly rewarded his ministers who had shared his hardships, but he forgot Jie Zitui. Someone spoke up for Jie Zitui. Suddenly reminded of the past, he felt guilty and immediately sent for Jie Zitui to appear in court to receive his rewards and official appointments. However, after several attempts, Jie Zitui refused to appear. Duke Wen had no choice but to go in person. However, when he arrived at Jie Zitui's house, the door was closed. Jie Zitui, unwilling to see him, had already taken refuge in Mianshan (southeast of present-day Jiexiu County, Shanxi Province) with his aging mother on his back. Duke Wen of Jin ordered his imperial guards to search Mianshan, but to no avail. Someone then suggested setting fire to the mountain, lighting three sides and leaving only one side. When the fire started, Jie Zitui would emerge on his own. Duke Wen ordered the fire to burn, but the blaze burned for three days and three nights. After the fire died out, Jie Zitui still hadn't emerged. Upon ascending the mountain, they found Jie Zitui and his mother, both dead, embracing a charred willow tree. Duke Wen of Jin wept and kowtowed before burying the remains. He discovered that Jie Zitui's spine had blocked a hole in the tree. Something seemed to be inside. He pulled it out and discovered it was a piece of clothing with a poem inscribed in blood:


I sacrifice my flesh to serve you with all my heart, hoping your lord will always be clear-minded.



Being a ghost beneath the willow tree, never to be seen, is better than serving you as a loyal minister.

If my lord holds me in his heart, he will often reflect on me when he thinks of me.

I, even in the afterlife, have no regrets, and I will continue to work diligently and with a clear conscience.

Duke Wen of Jin hid the blood letter in his sleeve. He then buried Jie Zitui and his mother separately beneath the charred willow tree. To commemorate Jie Zitui, Duke Wen of Jin ordered that Mianshan be renamed "Jieshan," and a shrine be built on the mountain. He also designated the day the mountain was set on fire as the Cold Food Festival, announcing to the nation that fireworks were forbidden on this day each year, and only cold food should be consumed.

Before leaving, he cut a section of charred willow wood and had it made into a pair of clogs at the palace. Every day, he would gaze at it and sigh, "How sad, my feet!" "Zuxia" was a respectful term of address used by subordinates to address superiors or peers in ancient times, and is said to have originated from this.

The following year, Duke Wen of Jin led his ministers on a plain hike up the mountain to pay their respects and express their condolences. Arriving at the grave, they saw the old willow tree revived, its thousands of green branches swaying in the wind. Duke Wen of Jin gazed upon the resurrected old willow tree, as if seeing Jie Zitui himself. He approached it with reverence, lovingly pinched a branch, and woven a loop into it, which he wore on his head. After paying his respects, Duke Wen of Jin named the resurrected tree "Qingming Willow" and designated that day as Qingming Festival.

Thereafter, Duke Wen of Jin often kept the blood-lettered letter close to his sleeve as a motto to motivate his administration. He governed diligently and honestly, striving for excellence and ruling the country with dedication.

From then on, the people of Jin lived and worked in peace and contentment, deeply cherishing Jie Zitui, who refrained from seeking fame and wealth despite his contributions. On the day of his death, fireworks were forbidden to mark his death. Instead, people used flour and date paste to create swallow shapes, strung them together with willow branches, and placed them on doors to summon his spirit. This object was called a "Zhi Tui Swallow" (Jie Zitui is also known as Jie Zitui). From then on, Cold Food Festival and Qingming Festival became solemn festivals for the people throughout the country. During Cold Food Festival, people refrained from cooking and ate only cold food. In the north, people only eat pre-prepared cold foods such as date cakes and wheat cakes; in the south, they mostly eat green rice dumplings and sweet glutinous rice lotus roots. Every Qingming Festival, people weave willow branches into loops and wear them on their heads, inserting willow branches in front of and behind their houses as a sign of remembrance.


Qingming Festival Customs


Qingming Festival customs are rich and interesting. In addition to the prohibition of fire and tomb sweeping, there are also a series of traditional sports activities such as outings, swinging, kicking balls, playing polo, and inserting willow branches. Legend has it that this is because Qingming Festival requires a ban on fire during the Cold Food Festival. To prevent the harmful effects of cold meals, people participate in these sports activities to exercise. Therefore, this festival combines the sorrowful tears of visiting new graves and the separation of the deceased with the joyful laughter of outings and recreation, making it a unique festival.



Swinging


This is an ancient Chinese Qingming Festival custom. "Qiuqi" means moving by pulling on a leather rope. It has a long history. Originally called "Qianqiu," it was later changed to "Qiuqi" to avoid taboos. In ancient times, swings were often made from tree branches, tied with ribbons. Later, they evolved into swings with two ropes and pedals. Swinging not only improves health but also cultivates courage, and remains a popular sport, especially among children.

Cuju

A cuju is a leather ball with a fur-filled interior. Cuju involves kicking the ball with your foot. It was a popular game during the Qingming Festival in ancient times. Legend has it that it was invented by the Yellow Emperor, originally for training warriors.

Outing

Also known as a spring outing, it was also known as exploring spring or searching for spring. During the Qingming Festival in March, spring returns to the earth, and nature is vibrant everywhere, making it an ideal time for an outing. The Chinese have long maintained the custom of outings during the Qingming Festival.

Tree Planting

Around the Qingming Festival, the spring sun shines brightly, and the spring rain falls, ensuring a high survival rate and rapid growth for planted saplings. Therefore, the custom of planting trees during the Qingming Festival has been a long-standing tradition in China. Some people also call Qingming Festival "Tree Planting Day." The custom of planting trees has survived to this day. In 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress designated March 12th of each year as China's Tree Planting Day. This is of great significance in mobilizing people of all ethnic groups across the country to actively participate in greening activities.


Kite flying


It is also a popular activity during the Qingming Festival. During the festival, people fly kites not only during the day but also at night. At night, strings of colorful lanterns are hung under the kites or on the wind-resistant strings, resembling twinkling stars and known as "magic lanterns." In the past, some people would release their kites into the blue sky and cut the strings, allowing the wind to carry them to the ends of the earth. This was believed to ward off illness and disaster and bring good luck.